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How
is a Human Vacation
Like an Animal Migration?
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Background
When you go on a trip, you have to prepare for it. How is a human vacation
different from an animal migration? For example, have YOU ever traveled
without a suitcase?
As students
study migrations this season, prompt them to compare and contrast the
purpose of travel, the preparations required, and the challenges faced.
They're sure to appreciate an animal's remarkable journey even more
after comparing their abilities to our own.
Exploration
- Ask
students to think about trips they've taken. Ask, Why did you
go? What made the trip fun, comfortable and safe? What caused problems? Invite
stories that illustrate these points.
- Make
two columns on the board or a flip chart. Label one column Human
Travel and the other Animal Migration. Pose questions
that spark students to compare human travel and animal migration.
Here are some examples:
- What's
the purpose of your trip?
- How far
ahead do you make your plans?
- What
things do you need to bring? (Have you ever traveled without a suitcase?)
- Do you
need to get in shape before you go?
- How do
you find your way?
- Does
the weather usually affect your time of departure, or the pace of
your travel?
- How do
you find food on your travels?
- Where
do you spend the night?
As soon
as students get the idea, let them suggest their own comparisons. They
should write responses on Migration/Vacation
charts. (You might want to look at the Sample
Migration/Vacation chart so you can prompt students.)
Note: If you track more than one migration this year,
have students make and compare migration/vacation travel charts for
different kinds of animals.
3. Continue
the "trip" by asking students to add more items to the class
chart or individual ones as they delve into migration. They should
use a different color pen or pencil for these additions.
Assessment
See what new items students are able to add to their charts during the Journey
North season and ask how these reflect student understanding. Check that they're
able to identify some of the "whys" and "hows" of migration and
the adaptations (structural and behavioral characteristics) that enable animals
to make these journeys.
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